What if only those raised in the western world believe that the death penalty will deter violent crimes? If the terrorist’s purpose is to die in a blast of glory, killing as many infidels (innocent non-Muslim people) as possible, the threat of death only fuels his fervor. Will the death penalty increase terrorist attacks?
If the terrorist doesn’t die in a hail of bullets, a conviction may grant the killer his martyr’s trip to Paradise. Perhaps the judicial system should consider that to die as a martyr is the highest reward for the terrorist and deny him the victory.
While the jury in the Boston Marathon Bomber’s trial passed down a unanimous decision for the death penalty, it’s not over, except for the men and women of that jury. The sitting judge still needs to examine everything and decide if he will agree with their sentence.
If the judge does, then the twenty-year-old will sit it out on a federal death row in Indiana. For the next decade or so, the victims of the bomber’s hatred will be called upon to give testimony in a host of appeals; the suffering isn’t yet over for them. Their desire to put it all behind them and piece together their shattered lives remains unfulfilled.
When young Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left the note inside the boat, the only sentence possible jumped out like the multiple bullet holes between the letters. Life in prison without any possibility of parole.
The young terrorist expressed jealousy that his brother had received jannatul firdaus before him, and asked Allah to allow him to join his brother and the other righteous who now dwelt in this highest part of Paradise. Should the court system grant the killer his plea for martyrdom, an act that may encourage other disgruntled youth to follow in his footsteps?
If the death penalty isn’t going to deter others from strapping on a belt of dynamite or placing explosive-laden backpacks in the center of public events like the Boston Marathon, what will?
Consider emphasizing that the terrorist will be denied the glory of the death penalty, but can count on being entirely forgotten. Ask the media to repeatedly broadcast that the killer will live for twenty-three hours of every day in total isolation, with one hour of solitary exercise a day for the rest of his life. Press home the truth that no one will even remember his involvement in some gruesome public attack.
The argument that the poor lad only followed the instructions of the brother he both feared and adored, rather falls short of believability in the face of his absence of remorse. How can an innocent victim of sibling control not see the results of his heinous act and crumble in the sight of the suffering he caused?
Perhaps, his callous demeanor suggests that he agreed with the heinous act of revenge perpetrated against the innocent American people. The words he thought would be his last on this earth indicated he expected death to be his victory and his ticket to Paradise.
If the court upholds the proposed death penalty for the terrorist, doesn’t it offer those less inclined to strap on a suicide vest an easier avenue to Paradise? The young recruit may shy away from exploding his body parts with the push of a button, but he’ll have two other possibilities to enter Paradise if he participates in the attack.
He may die in a hail of police bullets or, he may choose to rush the armed officers. If the suicide-by-police doesn’t work and the officers arrest the perpetrator of the crime, no worries; there’s a good chance the court will hand down the death penalty. That’ll take a bit longer, but should prove a less painful way to Paradise.
In summary, those seeking immediate access to Paradise, believe they need only to die in connection with the killing of the non-Muslims, regardless of the age of their victims. Their death may occur as a result of one of the following:
- the explosion of a suicide belt or faulty timing switch on the backpack bomb
- the bullet(s) of law enforcement officers, either targeted or as the result of suicide-by-police
- the court system sentence of the death penalty
As citizens, we can do nothing to prevent the terrorist from achieving his goal in the first two of the three possibilities. However, we can urge the judicial system to deny the murderer of innocent men, women, and children his victory from the third.
We need to ask the hard question: Will the death penalty increase terrorist attacks?
Weigh in on the question and leave a comment below. I’m interested in your opinion.
